Wilhelm:Rama's visit step forward despite unfortunate event

BELGRADE - German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm said that the recent visit by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is an important achievement and a step in the right direction in the development of bilateral ties, despite, as he said, an unfortunate episode.

The most important thing is that the visit took place - it is an achievement in itself. It took 68 years for an Albanian prime minister to come to Serbia, Wilhelm told Tanjug.

On the down side, of course, what happened here in Belgrade was an unfortunate episode but I think that the visit went well overall, he said, adding that the visit laid the foundation for the promotion of bilateral ties in weeks and months to come.

The Albanian prime minister said at a joint press conference that reality is one and unchangeable and that Kosovo is independent, to which the Serbian prime minister replied that he does not see what Rama has to do with Kosovo. "Under the Constitution, Kosovo-Metohija is a part of Serbia, and has had and will have nothing to do with Albania," he stressed.

Wilhelm pointed out that Serbia and Albania play an important role in the region, and that closer relations between the two countries would be of great value.

The visit was certainly a big step in this direction, said Wilhelm, noting that the visit, originally planned for October 22, was postponed due to an incident at the Serbia-Albania football match in Belgrade on October 14 and that it was uncertain if it would take place at all.

Wilhelm also noted that German Chancellor Angela Merkel played a part in setting up the meeting between the two prime ministers.

Photo Tanjug Video, camera operator Predrag Crvenkovic

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